B.A., Department of Political Science, Pennsylvania State University, 1978

Overview

My main areas of research are policies to reduce poverty and vulnerability in rural settings, policies to stimulate economic development in disadvantaged and marginal areas, and assessment of impacts of agricultural and rural development programs. I work with international donors to explore means of reducing poverty and vulnerability in rural areas of developing countries and advise local governments in the U.S. on actions they can take to stimulate economic development.

Role of Graduate Students

All my grants are focused on supporting graduate students. I have advised more than 40 graduate students (M.S. and Ph.D.) to completion of their degree during my tenure at Virginia Tech. Recent PhD advisees have taken faculty positions at the University of Adelaide (Australia), Universidad Central del Ecuador, and Virginia Tech. Many of my graduate student advisees travel oversees to conduct their research and collect data. I have also supported and led travel of many undergraduate students to developing countries to conduct research on agricultural developmen

Projects

Strengthening Impact Assessment in the CGIAR (10/2013-6/2016)

Funding source: Standing Panel on Impact Assessment of the CGIAR (SPIA)Brief description: Work with colleagues at the International Potato Center (CIP) and the International Center for Forestry Research (CIFOR) to systematize the assessment of impacts of selected projects. Project involves five graduate students who travel to Peru, Indonesia and China to collect data to be used to assess impacts of various research projects.

Measuring Impacts of C-88 in China (4/2015-12/2016)Funding source:CIP and SPIABrief description:C-88, a Late Blight Resistant Potato, was released in China in 2001 and was widely adopted in Yunnan Province. To date, it represents one of the most impactful varieties released by CIP. This project is designed to measure the extent of diffusion and adoption of C-88, the impacts of adoption on farm households in Yunnan, and the aggregate economic impacts of the variety. As the potato is used as an input into the rapidly expanding potato chip industry, part of the study will evaluate impacts along the potato value chain.

Measuring the Impacts of High-Iron Beans on Farm Operations, Household Well-being and Dietary Diversity in Rwanda (4/2015-12/2017)Funding source:International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and SPIABrief description:Research project in Rwanda examining the household- and market-level impacts of iron-fortified bean varieties released in the country by Harvest Plus. Project involves collecting and analyzing a large household dataset. Econometric estimates of treatment effects from adoption of new technologies are combined with market-level models to account for impacts on farm operations, yields and farm income, and dietary diversity of poor producers.

Measuring the Impacts of Improved Lentil Varieties in Bangladesh (4/2015-12/2017)Funding source:International Center Dryland Agricultural Research (ICARDA) and SPIABrief description:Research project in Bangladesh examining the household- and market-level impacts of improved lentil varieties. Project involves collecting and analyzing a large household dataset. Econometric estimates of treatment effects from adoption of improved lentils are used to measure impacts on farm operations, yields and farm income.

Courses Taught

AAEC 4324: Rural and regional development policy

AAEC 4334: Rural development applications

AAEC 4984: SANREM research internship program

AAEC 5244: Economics of rural development

AAEC 6314: Applied development economics

AAEC 5154: International agricultural development and trade (Past class)

I have a teaching/research appointment with major responsibilities in advising and supporting graduate students. My teaching responsibilities are in the areas of domestic rural development, and economics of international agricultural and rural development. As a part of my undergraduate and graduate teaching, I strive to involve students in my research program: lead an undergraduate research internship program, support international travel for graduate students, and support undergraduate research projects.